A draftsman, also known as a drafter, is a skilled professional responsible for drawing specifications and plans for various projects. They are employed by various industries in different fields of work. A drafter is hired to work with other professionals like engineers, scientists, and architects. They possess several skills, and most of them are trained in CAD software processes. The draftsman usually works in close consultation with the architects and engineers, and you should get the best benefits of the commercial mechanism of using the draft-making facility of the draftsman.  

Skills To Look For In Your Drafter

Here are some basic skills that every drafter must possess to get hired in high-end projects.

Draftsman

Drawing & Sketching

Sketching itself is a good habit, but the professional must start planning with technical sketching if s/he is a good draftsman. Technical sketching refers to a type of sketching that helps drafter to transform their ideas into workable plans. Such drawings consist of various blueprints and diagrams.   With the CAD techniques, they can draw the sketches and go on with the techniques, and thereby supervise the entire engineering work. The software development has made the work easier as the drafter uses those to make a top-quality technical drawing for the project.

• Clicking Pictures Of Buildings

Most draftsman has a habit of clicking pictures of various buildings they consider to provide a great architectural view. When a drafter works on a project that he or she is not sure about, at that moment, a real-life project gives a solution to the problem. Estimating the material costs and designs of materials should also be done by the draftsman and later on, if he already knows the types of building, then the repairing and maintenance can also be done accordingly. 

A drafter acts as a middleman between a customer and a contractor. The industries hire them to plan and draw, keeping in mind the various calculations so that the project receives a green signal from the law. A draftsman mostly works with a team of engineers and architects. So apart from looking at the professional's team working quality, look at his/her communication skills. 

• Handling CAD Software

Software is developed to make work efficient. There are various CAD software that professional drafters use on a large scale to tackle projects easier. Specification of software and conducting field and laboratory tests also require the CAD handling so the draftsman also does this. For example, AutoCAD and TurboCAD are the two software used for 2D drawings, whereas Revit, Sketchup, and SolidWorks are used for 3D drawings. So, before hiring the professional, make sure s/he is accustomed to it.

• Investigating

The professional draftsman also visits the site to catch other person's mistakes. The drafters visit the different sites and find out small mistakes to avoid them while s/he is planning for a similar project. This makes them more experienced and knowledgeable. 

• Calculations & Geometry

It is a skill that every good drafter must possess, whether he is an architectural drafter, civil drafter, or mechanical drafter. A draftsman's job is not only to draw but also to plan by solving different types of mathematical calculations. They must know the basic principles of parameters, shapes, views, and lines. Affine geometry, stereometry, planimetry, and projective geometry are some types of geometry topics that a drafter must know of. So, make sure to look for it before you make your decision.

Draftsman

Conclusion

The skills of a draftsman mostly vary from one industry to another. Therefore, they must stay updated with the various skills that the industry requires. However, the skills mentioned above are the basic skills that every industry looks for before hiring a drafter.